Teaching Philosophy & Experience
As an art educator, I believe that art has the power to drive inquiry, experimentation, self-expression, and community dialogue. I encourage students to observe and reflect upon the world around them and develop their voices through various artistic forms. My student-centered approach to curricula design and my commitment to fostering collaborative and inclusive classroom environments encourage autonomy, communication, social-emotional and active learning, critical thinking, and lifelong art appreciation. I specifically design lesson plans for a variety of developmental needs. I continuously seek opportunities for growth and professional development especially as learning strategies continue to evolve.
I have 8+ years of experience as an art educator working in various museums, including The Museum of Modern Art and Children's Museum of the Arts, art studios, Sinergia's art program, NYC private and public schools, and District 75 schools. I have speciality training and experience in accessible learning and programing for children with developmental disabilities, especially autism spectrum disorder, and ASL and ESL learners. I have developed public art programs at Pier 57 and Little Island in NYC. I am trained in visual literacy strategies from the Yale Center for British Art's "Summer Teacher Institute 2023." I am trained in inquiry-based learning, Visual Thinking Strategies, and Universal Design for Learning teaching pedagogies. I have a B.A. with honors in both Studio Art and Psychology from Skidmore College.
Artist Statement
Painting allows me to materialize the dialectic between the optical and tactical senses; the act of painting is a physical and visual expression of my mind, body, soul, and touch. I create fast-paced, action paintings where each brush stroke and movement expresses emotion. I work intuitively, relying on my abstract sensibility and my connection to color. I focus on painting and drawing scenes from nature, whether they are full landscapes or abstracting the natural and amorphous form. I experiment with various media including wax, newspaper, and fabric, which affords me the freedom to explore a variety of textures.
My ceramic work molds the relationship between form and function. Each piece is manipulated to create new bodies that connect to nature, whether through shape, or glaze combination. The functional aspects of my pieces are meant to encourage the creation of stories and memories through individual or communal use (food, mementos, and/or junk drawer items).
I am motivated by art that demands individualized experiences. I strive to continue creating works that grow and evolve with my abilities and conceptual intent as an artist.
